Means for handling rods for hat-drying apparatus.



W. F. CHINIQUY & W. 0. WINCH` MEANS ron HANDLING Roos for? HAT DRYINGANMB/nus.`

n APPLICATION FILD FEB. ll 1915 u im Patented Dec. 4,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. F. CHINIQUY @L W. G. W|NCH. MEANS roN HANDLING Noos FoN NAT DNYINGAPPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. ll. l9l5. L24929., Fammi Dee. 4,1917.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEU 2. NB A W. F.CHINIQUY & W. 0. WINCH. MEANS FOR HANDLINGRODS FOR HAT DHYING APPARATUS.

, APPLICATION FILED FEB. II, |9I5- .A l $491,029. Patented ma, 4l, EN?,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Dee. 4

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

LII II, IBI

W. F. CHINIQUY & W. 0. WINCH. MEANS FOR HANDLING RoDs'FoR HAT DRYINGAPPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. Il, |915.

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WILLIAM F. CHINIQUY AND WILLIAM O. WINCH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MEANS FOR HANDLING RODS FOR HAT-DRYING APPARATUS.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 191'?.

' Application filed February 11, 1915. Serial No. 7,497.

To aZZfwwm t may concern Be 1t known that we, WILLIAM F. CHINI- QUY andWILLIAM O. VINCII, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago,inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Means for Handling Rods for Hat- DryingApparatus, of which the following is a specification. Y i

This invention relates to hat drying apparatus and more particularly tomeans for handling and washing the rods or supports upon which thetreated hats iare disposed during the drying operation. One of theobjects of our invention comprises the provision of a suitablereceptacle wherein the various parts of the conveyer mechanism that comein contact with the hats being dried are automatically discharged forthe purpose of cleaning the same. Y

Still another object is the provision of a suitable slideway into whichthe hat supporting elements or rods are discharged after passage throughthe heated chamber preparatory to depositing the same in the cleaning orwashing receptacle.

A still further object of our invention is to construct an apparatus ofthe class described that will be simple in construction and operation,easy to operate and inexpensive to manufacture.

We accomplish the above and other objects familiar to those skilled inthis art by the means and in the manner hereinafter set forth, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters refer to similar parts throughout the various views. v

Figure 1 is alongitudinal side elevation of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation thereof at the feed end of theapparatus.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan of the discharge end of the conveyer.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the mechanism Shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a` fragmentary front elevation of the rod discharge mechanismand cleaning receptacle.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

Primarily, our hat drying apparatus comprises a longitudinally disposedcompart ment, substantially rectangular in cross section, being of anydesired dimensions to suit the individual case. This compartment ispreferably suspended from the ceiling of the room in which it isinstalled, being effectively heated by causing a draft of hot air orsteam to pass therethrough. The compartment is preferably made of sheetmetal bent to a hollow rectangular form and is of a length suflicient`to entirely dry the hats during their transit therethrough on theconveyer.

The means for conveying the hats through this heated compartmentconsists of an endless conveyer comprising two parallel simultaneouslydriven link belts or chains 10, that are suitably supported and guidedthrough the heated compartment preferably by means of idlers 10b or inany other suitable manner. Interposed at intervals between the links of`these chains 10, are a plurality of hookshaped carrier links 10, thatafford a means for supporting a plurality of transversely disposedremovable parallel rods 11, (Fig. 1). The rods 11, are adapted to bepicked up at the feeding or receiving end of the apparatus (Figs. 2 and3), carried through the compartment on said conveyer and dischargedtherefrom at the opposite end thereof (Figs. 4 and 5) where they aredeposited in a suitable washing vat (Figs. 6 and 7).

The feeder mechanism consists of a suitable table 12, comprisinghorizontal top members 12, vertical standards or legs 12 and transverseties 12. Transverse to the members 12a and secured preferably to thetops thereof are suitable guides'or brackets in which bearings 13 areadjustably mounted, which latter are adapted to support a longitudinallydisposed shaft 14, extending substantially parallel with the top of thetable, while keyed to each end of said shaft are suitable sprockets 15,over which the chains of the conveyer are adapted to travel. Mountedupon brackets 16, bolted to the top members 12a just in front of thesprockets 15, are inclined chutes or guideways 17, upon which the rods11 are placed and from which they are removed one at a time by thehooked links 10a of the conveyer'. Suitable substantially V-shapedbrackets 18 are secured to the forward side of the legs 12b, andV areadapted to support the rods 11, prior to their being placed upon thechutes 17.

Upon reaching the discharge end of the heating` compartment the conveyertravels over 4a sprocket wheel 19, mounted on the ends of a lshaft 19a,which is suitably jour naled in bearings 19h, secured to brace members19C, which latter are bolted to the verti` calsides of the compartment.Guide plates 20, are secured between the sprocket wheels 19 andtheadjacent side walls of the compartment, and extend from points asuitable distance inside the compartment toward the adjacent end thereofand gradually converge to points past the outer segments of sprockets19. rPhe upper portion 20'L1 of each plate is preferably bent laterallyin a horizontal plane and then extends inwardly and then down, to form adepending` flange apron 20", through a portion of which the conveyerchain is adapted to pass. An opening 2Oc is cut in the lower edge ofth-e depending portion 201 to admit of the passage of the. chain andhooked links. A bent or curved rod 21, h'eld in place by suitabletransverse pins 217 that project inwardly vfrom the vertical walls ofthe compartment is so disposed therein. that its curvature issubstantially parallel or concentric with the contour of the sprocket 19so that during the movement of the conveyer the rods are adapted to beretained upon the hooks until the proper time for their discharge. VThelower end 211 of the rod 21 is straightened and is preferably inclinedtangential to the arc described by the curved portion thereof, and asthe rods 11 aredischarged from the chains they roll down the inclinedportion 21h to the receiving chute of the washing vat.

vThe washing vat preferably comprises a suitable receptacle 22 that issupported upon a rectangular shaped open frame 22a mounted upon legs orotherwise, the upper portion of said receptacle being hopper shaped andthe lower portion or bottom being segmental shaped vsubstantially asshown in F ig. 7 of f the drawings. Extending downwardly from the lowerinclined end of rod 21, to a point above and adjacent the open end ofthe receptacle 21b are substantially vertically disposed parallel plates23 in which serpentine paths or grooves 23a are formed that are facedwithv strips of leather, or other suitable sound deadening material 23".This serpentine groove permitsthe gravitation of the rods at aV retardedspeed and avoids thc clatter and noise incident to the falling of saidrods through a straight path.

Mounted upon a longitudinally disposed horizontal Yrock shaft 24,journaled at its ends in bearings 22c on frame 22 are transverselydisposed horizontal arms or levers 25 that extend transverselyacross thehopper of the receptacle and are adapted to receive the rods 1 1, asthey gravitate from the lowerdischarge'endv'ofthe serpentine grooves.`The ends of said rock-shaft are s provided with 'counter-balancedlevers 24a so ythat after a quantity of said rods are ref ceived uponsaid arms they will tilt and deposit the same in the washing receptacle.

Extending parallel to the shaft 2e, is a similar shaft 26, journaled atitsends, and atv suitable points intermediate thereto in bearings 2Gbolted to the side of the frame 22h; said shaft is provided at one endwith a. suitable crank 26', and a pawland ratchet mechanism 26 andintermediate its bearingsl said shaft 26 is provided with pulleys orreels 27, upon which strips of suitable flexible material 28 aresecuredand `wound andV against which the rods will rest anddrip,

the lower ends of said bars being secured in any suitable manner to thecross piece 22d, ofthe tank supporting frame.k Directly under thesebars. a drip pan 31 is provided to receive the drip from the washedrods.

The receptacle 22 is preferably partly filled with a cleansing fluid andthepawl and ratchet mechanism released soas to immerse the strips 28therein. The hat carrying rods are deposited upon thearm 25 untilr asullicient number has been received to overbalance the weight whereuponthe shaft 24 will rock and cause the rods to fall into the receptacleand be caught by the strips 28. `Agitation is caused by rotating theshaft 2G by means of the crank 26b a short distance in one directionandV then in the opposite direction permitting therods to tumble overeach other and rub together for the purpose of thoroughly cleansingthem.

Pan 31 is provided in its bottom with a suitable drain pipe 32, and anoverflow pipe 33 is tapped intothe receptacle for the purpose ofpreventingtoolarge a quantity of cleansingrfluid from being placed inthe latter."y

feeding chute 17 from which they are picked up one by one insubstantially successive order by the hooks upon the conveyer, whichlatter moves them upwardly into and throughthe heated compartment. Thehats are placed upon these rods by operatives standing at the feed endof the conveyer and are preferably arranged in rows,`tw`elve `in eachrow. The heated compartment is closed at the opposite end and isprovided with a suitable injector, wherebyhot air is blown into theinterior of said compartment. hats travel through the compartment at avery slow speed and upon reaching the opposite end are dischargedtherefrom upon a downwardly and outwardly inclined trough or chute 34ewhence they slide upon a suitable table or other receptacle. The rodscontinue their travel with the conveyer until the lower end of the rod20 is reached where they leave thehoolrs and slide into the serpentineguideway 23 down to the arms prior to being immersed and cleansed.

W'e claiml. Means for receiving and washing rods carried by a conveyercomprising a washing receptacle, means for directing said rods from saidconveyer to said receptable, a device interposed in the path of saidrods and from which they are discharged into said receptacle, and meansfor agitating the rods within said receptacle comprising a plurality ofparallel flexible strips secured at one of their ends, drums upon whichthe opposite ends of said strips are adapted to be wound, and means forrotating said drums.

2. Means for receiving and washing rods carried by al conveyercomprising a washing receptacle, means for directing said rods from saidconveyer to said receptacle, a device interposed in the path of saidrods and from which they are discharged into said receptacle, and meansfor agitating the rods within said receptacle comprising a plurality ofparallel flexible strips secured at one of their ends, drums upon whichthe opposite ends of said strips are adapted to be wound, means forrotating said drums and pulleys mounted on said receptacle adapted tosupport said strips between their secured ends and said drums.

3. Means for receiving and washing rods carried by a conveyer comprisinga washing receptacle, means for directing said rods from said conveyerto vsaid receptacle, a device interposed in the path of said rods andfrom which they are discharged into said receptacle, and means foragitating the rods within said receptacle comprising a plurality ofparallel flexible strips secured at one of their ends, a rotatable shaftjournaled opposite the secured end of said strips, drums secured uponsaid shaft upon which said strips are adapted to be wound,

The

means for actuating said shaft, and pulleys from said conveyer to saidreceptacle, a`

device interposed in the path of said rods and from which they aredischarged into said receptacle consisting of a rock shaft journaled onsaid receptacle, and lateral arms mounted on said rock-shaft and eX-tended across the lower ends of said directing means.

5. Means for receiving and washing-*rods carried by a conveyercomprising a washing receptacle, means for directing said rods from saidconveyer to said receptacle, a device interposed in the path of saidrods and from which they are discharged into said receptacle, and meansfor agitating the rods within said receptacle, said means also adaptedto elevate said rods and remove the same from said receptacle, and aplurality of transversely disposed bars adjacent said receptacle inposition to receive said rods when elevated by the agitating means.

6. Means for receiving and washing rods carried by a conveyer comprisinga washing receptacle, means for directing said rods from said conveyerto said receptacle, a device interposed in the path of said rods andfrom which they are discharged into said receptacle, and means foragitating the rods within said receptacle, said means also adapted toelevate said rods and remove the same from said receptacle, and aplurality of transversely disposed parallel bars adjacent saidreceptacle in position to receive said rods when elevated by theagitatinfr means.

r. Means for receiving and washing rods carried by a conveyer comprisinga washing receptacle, means for directing said rods from said conveyerto said receptacle, a device interposed in the path of said rods andfrom which they are discharged into said receptacle, and means foragitating the rods within said receptacle, said means also adapted toelevate said rods and remove the same from said receptacle, and aplurality of transversely disposed parallel bars adjacent saidreceptacle, the outer portions are Vbent upwardly to form a stop, saidbars being disposed in position to receive said rods when elevated bythe agitating means.

8. Means for receiving and washing rods carried by a conveyer comprisinga washing receptacle, means for directing said rods from said conveyerto said receptacle, a dcvice interposed in the patliof said rods andfrom which they are discharged into said receptacle, and means foragitating the rods Within said receptacle, said means also our hands andseals this 6th day of .Febadapted to elevate said rods and remove themary, 1915.

same from said receptacle, and a plurality WILLAM F CHINIQUY [L .8 1

of transversely disposed bars inelineddown- T l n Wardly from saidreceptacle in position to XVILLIAM O' WINCH [L's] receive said rods whenelevated by the agi- Witnesses: tating means. GEORGE O. HLAVIN,

In Witness whereof, We have hereunto set MARK M. BATUO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patenti, Washington, D. C.

